Music
Thandiswa Mazwai Wins Four SAMA Awards for Sankofa
The 31st annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs) ceremony on Sunday, December 14, 2025, was a night to celebrate Thandiswa Mazwai, whose acclaimed 2024 album, Sankofa, won four major awards. The achievement cemented her status as an influential voice in African music.
Mazwai’s fourth studio album, Sankofa, was among the most-nominated projects, sharing the top spot with artists like Black Motion and Kelvin Momo. The quality and meticulous creation behind the work were recognized with wins in technical categories, showcasing the album’s quality. Her awards include Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album.
Beyond the technical triumphs, Sankofa was honored in two major categories. Mazwai was named Female Artist of the Year, and she also secured the award for Best African Adult Contemporary Album, acknowledging the album’s success within this genre.

Thandiswa Mazwai : Instagram
She was a top contender with Black Motion and Kelvin Momo, for the total number of nominations, the full list of competitors in the categories she won gives true context. For the Female Artist of the Year category, the results do not specify the other artists she was directly contested with. Similarly, the exact list of albums she competed against for Best African Adult Contemporary Album is not specified, though the list of winners confirms she won.

Thandiswa Mazwai : Instagram
For the technical awards, Best Engineered Album and Best Produced Album, only Sankofa is listed as the winner; the competing engineers and producers are not specified.
Read Also : Thuli Phongolo Announces New Song ‘HAI SUKA’, Opens Up about Life in Entertainment
Mazwai’s dominance at the SAMAs highlights a perfect evening for a musician who has paid her dues. The celebration was captured in her social media post following the wins. Her success, alongside other major winners of the night like Goldmax, took home Album of the Year.
Music
Tyla Drops ‘Is It Love’ Ahead of Upcoming Projects
Tyla has released a new single titled “Is It Love”, which has received positive views. The release arrives as anticipation around her upcoming 14-track album, A-POP. Fans are tracking her album following a strong run of global entertainment.
“Is It Love” blends pop, R and B, and Afrobeats, continuing the identity that has helped her grow. Reactions are encouraging, as Tyla was praised for her soft vocals.

Photo: Getty Images
The single talks about uncertainty in romantic relationships, focusing on emotional ambiguity. The song asks questions about intention, trust, and vulnerability. This theme aligns with a growing trend in contemporary pop. The song is part of her album, which she has been previewing in recent months.
Read Also: Tyla’s “Chanel” Earns Two Nominations at the 2026 BET Awards
Speaking to Rolling Stone earlier this year, Tyla talked about the process behind the project.
“I just knew that as I lived through the making of the album, it was going to fall into place, which it did. I feel like I just did something really fresh and so….”

Photo: Getty Images
Beyond music, Tyla is visible in the fashion and entertainment spaces. She will perform at several major international events like the Mawazine Festival in Morocco, Afro Nation Portugal, Beach, Please!, Montreux Jazz Festival and Hellawatt Festival.
Fan response across social platforms has been immediate, with discussions on the tone and production style. Some listeners praised her artistic maturity and dance steps. Pique on X says,
“This girl is really hardworking! I pray she gets all the wins she deserves….”
YDD tweeted,
“Aint go lie the song is good yall”
With the release of “Is It Love”, Tyla has positioned herself within the global music landscape as a top artist. As anticipation builds for her next official project announcement, “Is It Love” is an excellent release and signals a new era in her career.
Music
Kehlani Brings Her World Tour to South Afric
Kehlani has officially announced the South African phase of her Kehlani World Tour. She returns to the country after appearing at Rocking the Daisies in 2022. The singer will take part in two arena shows in December 2026.
The South African tour is expected to start at SunBet Arena in Pretoria on 15 December 2026 before moving to the Grand Arena at GrandWest in Cape Town on 17 December 2026. These shows are promoted by Big Concerts. Also part of Kehlani’s global tour are performances across North America and Europe.
Taking to her Instagram page, Kehlani shared their excitement saying:
“It’s been too long, South Africa!! I’ve missed you!”

Photo: Instagram
Kehlani’s album Kehlani has enjoyed major commercial success, debuting at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s lead single, “Folded,” has been a major success. The song contributed to her success in the music industry.
Read Also: NE-YO Return to SA for Two October Concert
Fans attending the South African concerts will enjoy songs such as “Honey,” “Distraction,” “After Hours,” and “Folded”. Top R&B artist Destin Conrad will be part of the tour as a special guest. Conrad is known for projects including SATIN and LOVE ON DIGITAL. His growing international profile makes him a fitting addition to the tour lineup.

Photo: Instagram
Open sales for the concerts will follow a particular structure. Mastercard cardholders get early access through a presale that starts on 17 June. This will be followed by a Big Concerts Fan Club presale on 18 June. General ticket sales opens on 19 June through official ticketing platforms. Fans should buy through authorised mediums.
Kehlani’s return shows the huge appeal South Africa has in the global touring space. With more international artists adding the country to their schedules, the December concerts are expected to be a success. Fans will witness the best of these R & B artists.
Music
NE-YO Return to SA for Two October Concert
NE-YO will visit South Africa in October 2026 for his upcoming tour. He will perform at two cities in the country. The announcement has excited music lovers who have looked forward to see him perform live. These concerts are part of his South Africa tour.
The first concert will be in Cape Town on 17 October 2026 at the Grand Arena, GrandWest. The next day, he will perform in Pretoria at the SunBet Arena,Pretoria.

Photo: Instagram
NE-YO was born Shaffer Chimere Smith and rose to fame in 2005 when he released his debut album In My Own Words. The project featured the single So Sick, which was a huge success. He followed with a string of hit albums and singles, including Sexy Love, Because of You, Closer, and Miss Independent.
NE-YO has written and co-written songs for Usher, and Jennifer Hudson. He has songwriting credits in Rihanna’s Unfaithful and Beyoncé’s Irreplaceable.
Read Also: After a Decade, J. Cole Brings Global Fall-Off Tour to South Africa
Organisers note that audiences may hear material from his upcoming project, Highway 79. Newer releases are also expected to feature in the set list. .
Vertex Events is promoting the concerts and has a good reputation of bringing international artists to their fans.

Photo: Instagram
It’s Executive Director, Thato Segaole, said,
“Giving the audiences a chance to experience a talented and respected artist such as NE-YO is a great pleasure for our team. We look forward to producing live shows of a great stature that will create endless talkability”
With a career spanning more than two decades, and multiple Grammy Awards, his October performances in Cape Town and Pretoria are expected to be successful. For many fans, the concerts will provide an opportunity to experience NE-YO perform live on South African stages.
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